Walking in a
Winter Wonderland
■Three area homes will be thematically decorated and
available for public tours
By Mason West
Oregon Daily Emerald
With the turkeys eaten and the leftovers in the fridge, it is
time to start thinking about the next holiday. Right at the
forefront of the Christmas brigade is The Eugene Sympho
ny Guild.
The guild’s 18th annual Christmas Walk is held in
three homes that have been decorated in themes by lo
cal florists to celebrate the holidays. The walk will take
place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday
from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Each home will feature a small shop of either food
or crafts, and all three will have live music performed
by 140 local artists who have donated their time.
The Eugene Symphony Guild is a group of 220
people who support the symphony by raising aware
ness and funds.
Dorothy Kays, co-chairwoman of the event, says
that this is the guild’s biggest fundraiser of the year.
The themes of the homes this year are “Holiday
Wedding Celebration,” “Grandmother’s Christ
mas,” and “La Dolce Vita.” The themes are created
by the florists who decorate the homes.
Scott Sunderland, owner of Shamrock Flowers
and Gifts and Urban Garden, designed the decora
tions for “La Dolce Vita.” He said that the colors
and design of the home all went along with a very
Italian style.
To actually decorate the homes, much of the
homeowners’ furniture and decorations are re
moved and replaced with items that better
fit the theme.
“There is a lot of attention to
detail,” Sunderland said. “When we’re done, it’s like walking through a
magazine.”
Sunderland has been participating in this event for more than 10 years,
and each time, it takes between 40 and 50 hours just to set up. That’s
about two days that these three families’ homes are not theirs. One
could wonder who would volunteer their home for
such an intrusion.
Sheri and Mitch Hammerstad’s home will be
transformed by the Hirons drug store on 18th
Avenue and The Flower Market into “Grand
mother’s Christmas.” Sheri has been attend
ing the event for about as long as it has
been happening, although she has no of
ficial affiliation with the guild.
“It’s kind of exciting to see what
someone else thinks your home
should look like at Christmas time,”
Sheri said.
The Hammerstads’ involvement
in the event started with a desire to
contribute back to the guild and the
community.
“This event starts the Christmas
season for a lot of people,” Sheri
said. “It’s full of the holiday spirit,
and it’s very community orient
ed.”
“Holiday Wedding” is
located at 765 Sand
Ave., “Grandmother’s
Christmas” is at 680
Sand Ave. and “La Dolce
Vita” is at 750 Club Way.
All three homes are
within walking distance
from the others.
Photos courtesy of
Tickets are $8 in advance and $10
at the door. They can be
purchased at the symphony office
at 45 W. Broadway, Suite 201,
or any of the following places:
• Beaudet Jewelry Design
• Shamrock Flowers and Gifts
• Urban Garden
• H irons (18th Avenue location)
The Flower Market
Reed and Cross
Nick and Nora’s
Eugene’s Flower Home
Heidi’s Cards Flowers and Gifts
Pat Revelle’s Flower and Bridal Shop
Ralph’s Drugs in Junction City
'Fiesta Navidad bringing new flavor to Christmas
■Celebrate the season with a
little Latin culture this year at
the Hu It Center
By Mason West
Oregon Daily Emerald
This holiday season, the Hult
Center is giving Eugene a different
perspective on Christmas with Fi
esta Navidad, a celebration of
Christmas in the Hispanic culture.
Tonight’s event will feature mari
achi music by Los Camperos de
Nati Cano and dancing by Ballet
Folklorico Ollin. The groups will
celebrate traditions from different
areas of Mexico including La Posa
da, a re-enactment of Mary and
Joseph’s pilgrimage to Bethlehem.
The evening will conclude with an
audience sing-a-long to mariachi
versions of Christmas carols.
Carol Brubaker, spokeswoman
for the Hult Center, said audience
members who are used to just
watching shouldn’t hesitate to get
involved with the performance.
“Things can be wild and fun and
very high energy,” she said.
Brubaker also believes the quali
ty of the mariachi singers will get
people involved.
“I’ve never heard a mariachi
group sing so strongly,” she said.
Rebeca Urhausen, who is organ
izing the Plaza Navidad for the
event, said that Los Camperos de
Nati Cano are the best mariachi
group in the United States.
Urhausen’s Plaza Navidad will be a
simulated mercado (market) with
shops and live performances. The
plaza will be in the Hult Center lob
by and will open at 6 p.m.
Urhausen said she has made the
plaza open to the public because
she believes it is very important to
showcase the Hispanic culture in
volved in this event.
“We don’t have Hispanic enter
tainment very often in Eugene, es
pecially at the Hult Center,” she
said.
Natalie Schoof, programming as
sistant for the Hult Center, said the
Fiesta Navidad has performed be
fore at the Hult Center in 1996 to a
sell-out crowd.
“The Nutcracker is great, but
people enjoy something different,”
she said.
Schoof said the Hult Center tries
to showcase many different cul
tures in its events, such as the Kodo
drumming show coming this Janu
ary.
The Fiesta Navidad will begin at
7 p.m., and tickets are available at
either the EMU or Hult Center (682
5000) ticket offices. Prices are
$22.50, $18.50 and $15.
Courtesy r Fiesta Navidad
Fiesta Navidad, a Christmas celebration of Hispanic culture, will be held at the Hult Center today at 6 p.m. The show features music
and dance and will conclude with a sing-along of mariachi-version Christmas carols.